"Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]." Romans 12:2 (Amplified Bible)
This is a verse that we memorized with the kids this week at VBS; all of the memory verses were from Romans, verses meant to encourage us during the times we visited "Paul" in prison and the "underground church." We followed fish symbols that were planted throughout the church every night to go to the underground church and those meeting places were changed each night because "Brutus" was all of the time looking for the Christians so he could put a stop to their worship of Jesus.
I'll tell you, it was exciting, especially when Brutus came so near to finding us and we heard him exclaim (outside the door) that he was going to "find those Christians" and place them all in prison. You should have seen those little kids with their great big eyes open wide!
The message of Romans 12:2 is this: God's love changes you. Isn't that great? It's so simple that some of the smartest people in the world miss it. When we allow God to transform us, (make us a new creature in Christ), we shake off the wickedness of this world.
The world is FULL of evil and the Lord doesn't want us to be contaminated by it. That doesn't mean that we are supposed to live in little vacuum sealed bags that allow nobody to come near us. It simply means that, as we live in the world and come into contact with unbelievers, we have to know how to keep ourselves separate from that which would take us from Jesus.
We are to stay close to the Savior by reading the Scriptures, praying, spending time with other believers (fellowship), etc. Then, as His love transforms us into new creatures who KNOW what is right and wrong, we then have the ability to live in the world but not be sucked into the vacuum in which unbelievers place themselves.
The end of Romans 12:2 speaks about knowing the "perfect will of God." How do I know what God's will is? It's not by sitting down, watching TV and waiting for God to "speak to me." His will is revealed in His Word. Yeah, the Bible. If you don't read it, you have no clue as to what His will is. And once you've allowed Him to transform you with His love, you can understand what that will is.
3 comments:
If you don't read it, you have no clue as to what His will is.
amen to that girl.
I can never get enough of Romans. Isn't it amazing sometime to think that Pauls letters were written so long ago, but are still so fresh every time we read them? Thanks for a wonderful post.
Sounds like VBS was a great week for you!
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